USB’s are one of the most commonly use input output devices, but what if these seemingly safe pieces of tech become the ultimate computer killer.
If you think that stories of flash drives that can burn the hardware in your PC are just made up, then meet USB Killer, as the name suggest this USB device is created for one purpose i.e. to fry your computers_ desktops, laptops on which it is inserted.
Now, what is the USB Killer, as per the product website, “the USB Kill 2.0 is a testing device created to test USB ports against power surge attacks. The USB Kill 2.0 tests your device's resistance against this attack.”
Now how does it work, the device seems “to collect power from the USB power lines (5V, 1 - 3A) until it reaches ~ -240V, upon which it discharges the stored voltage into the USB data lines. This charge / discharge cycle is very rapid and happens multiple times per second.”
This process of rapid discharging continues till the device is plugged in, or until the device can no longer discharge meaning that the circuit in the host machine is “broken.”
Now, what is the purpose of this seemingly evil device the primary purpose is security and testing of the devices.
“Hardware designers of public machines should have a USB Kill to test their products… Likewise, consumer hardware designers cell phones, laptops, televisions, portable devices - should protect their devices against malicious attacks.” Whereas, “Security auditors and penetration testers should also have a USB Kill 2.0” said the company in their arsenal of tools.” And its good for anyone who want to kill their devices or someone else.
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